Hi guys,
Recently and out of the blue I have had a number of requests for completely bead blasted lights. I think I need to explain where I am coming from on this.
I really like to be able to process an order for a light in as timely fashion as possible and that means getting it out in the next mail pick up after receiving a request. I don't like to wait any longer than necessary when I order something and I figure many of you don't either. I can't control the timeliness of delivery from people and companies I order stuff from but I can have some control in how long it takes me to perform. With this in mind, I like to preassemble these lights as far as possible in anticipation of requests. With the current 3S McClickie lights that means I have everything preassembled with the exception of the light engine itself. When I get a request, I build the light engine with appropriate LED and converter and then complete the build. My McClickie paks are already built out with clip and switch installed and all heads with the exception of the Haiku head are already complete except for the light engine.
The only components I bead blast as a rule are the pocket / belt clips. I will set up the blasting cabinet and spend a few hours blasting when I get a new delivery of clips. I will also take some Haiku heads and 1x123 McClickie paks that I have set aside for blasting and ideally do them at the same time. My blasting rig is not set up at all times and it takes time to set it up. It is in my garage and I live in a residential neighborhood so I limit running the compressor to mid day when others have lawn mowers and other noisy equipment running. Every time I get a request for a BB Haiku and find my self not having a set ready to go I resent offering these as an option. It's a PITA to take a McClickie pak apart just to blast it not to mention setting up the blasting cabinet. I don't expect anyone to feel sorry for me here but hope you can accept my reasons for not being thrilled about offering custom finish options on a case by case basis; heck this is just cosmetics. :duck:
I don't believe I mentioned a BB option in either the Haiku XP-G or Haiku XM-L threads and this was not an accident. I was kind of hoping the requests for BB lights would fade away along with the original BB Haiku that had the XR-E LED.
I admit that there are all kinds of plating possibilities and anodizing possibilities with titanium as well as bead blast and stone washed finishes. If I were offering truly custom, one at a time lights and accepted lead time involved I would not have a ready reason or excuse for not entertaining some cosmetic options. Yes, I could offer a completely bead blasted light. I could offer a TiN plated option and anodize colors. I could take nail polish and paint the lights like easter eggs for that matter. But I don't! :duck:
For me to willingly offer some of these options I would have to charge more than I believe they are worth and that due to short comings on my end. I guess I am selfish with my time and a wuss as I don't like to receive a request that I have to deny or say no to. I think being proactive and explaining the situation up front may help avoid requests that will be denied. Does that make any sense?
I have had it suggested to me at times that I use McGizmo.com (after removing all the cobwebs) as an e-commerce site and set up to do business in a more conventional manner with well defined items listed and shopping cart and so on. There is certainly merit to going in that direction and it might serve both myself and you guys better. BUT. The McGizmo forum we all have built here over time is refreshing in so many ways, at least to me, and the lack of structure seems to allow for more creative and personal approaches it seems. I may be missing business opportunities limiting myself to this forum as means of going to market but to date you guys have provided enough business and support that it hasn't been an issue. :bow:
At some point I probably do need to get a better handle on what is being offered and come up with some more structure related to the offerings but if I can get away with putting this off for a while longer it is the path of least resistance.
Recently and out of the blue I have had a number of requests for completely bead blasted lights. I think I need to explain where I am coming from on this.
I really like to be able to process an order for a light in as timely fashion as possible and that means getting it out in the next mail pick up after receiving a request. I don't like to wait any longer than necessary when I order something and I figure many of you don't either. I can't control the timeliness of delivery from people and companies I order stuff from but I can have some control in how long it takes me to perform. With this in mind, I like to preassemble these lights as far as possible in anticipation of requests. With the current 3S McClickie lights that means I have everything preassembled with the exception of the light engine itself. When I get a request, I build the light engine with appropriate LED and converter and then complete the build. My McClickie paks are already built out with clip and switch installed and all heads with the exception of the Haiku head are already complete except for the light engine.
The only components I bead blast as a rule are the pocket / belt clips. I will set up the blasting cabinet and spend a few hours blasting when I get a new delivery of clips. I will also take some Haiku heads and 1x123 McClickie paks that I have set aside for blasting and ideally do them at the same time. My blasting rig is not set up at all times and it takes time to set it up. It is in my garage and I live in a residential neighborhood so I limit running the compressor to mid day when others have lawn mowers and other noisy equipment running. Every time I get a request for a BB Haiku and find my self not having a set ready to go I resent offering these as an option. It's a PITA to take a McClickie pak apart just to blast it not to mention setting up the blasting cabinet. I don't expect anyone to feel sorry for me here but hope you can accept my reasons for not being thrilled about offering custom finish options on a case by case basis; heck this is just cosmetics. :duck:
I don't believe I mentioned a BB option in either the Haiku XP-G or Haiku XM-L threads and this was not an accident. I was kind of hoping the requests for BB lights would fade away along with the original BB Haiku that had the XR-E LED.
I admit that there are all kinds of plating possibilities and anodizing possibilities with titanium as well as bead blast and stone washed finishes. If I were offering truly custom, one at a time lights and accepted lead time involved I would not have a ready reason or excuse for not entertaining some cosmetic options. Yes, I could offer a completely bead blasted light. I could offer a TiN plated option and anodize colors. I could take nail polish and paint the lights like easter eggs for that matter. But I don't! :duck:
For me to willingly offer some of these options I would have to charge more than I believe they are worth and that due to short comings on my end. I guess I am selfish with my time and a wuss as I don't like to receive a request that I have to deny or say no to. I think being proactive and explaining the situation up front may help avoid requests that will be denied. Does that make any sense?
I have had it suggested to me at times that I use McGizmo.com (after removing all the cobwebs) as an e-commerce site and set up to do business in a more conventional manner with well defined items listed and shopping cart and so on. There is certainly merit to going in that direction and it might serve both myself and you guys better. BUT. The McGizmo forum we all have built here over time is refreshing in so many ways, at least to me, and the lack of structure seems to allow for more creative and personal approaches it seems. I may be missing business opportunities limiting myself to this forum as means of going to market but to date you guys have provided enough business and support that it hasn't been an issue. :bow:
At some point I probably do need to get a better handle on what is being offered and come up with some more structure related to the offerings but if I can get away with putting this off for a while longer it is the path of least resistance.